Colin Hayward Toland, 9, became Ithaca's newest honorary police officer last week, a major milestone for a brave boy who has had to deal with many setbacks in his short life.

Colin was celebrating his second birthday in 2009 when he collapsed. He underwent emergency surgery, where doctors found Ependymoma, a brain tumor that affects the brain and spinal cord.

"We thought he was only hanging on to life," said Ian Hayward, Colin’s father.

The toddler underwent treatments of high dose chemotherapy and radiation for about a year. In 2010, after his third brain surgery, Colin has miraculously recovered, finding the strength to eat and speak again.

"It’s amazing that he graduated from kindergarten at the appropriate age" said Tamiko Toland, his mother.